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North Seymour

For me Seymour Norte is one of the most fascinating islands, unfortunately we had only one hour time there as we visited it on our last day from 6 until 7 in the morning as the boat returned at 8 to Puerto Ayora. Most people flew home with the 10 am plane. (and they count this day as the 8th day cruise!)
in Seymour Norte lives a colony of frigate birds. On the other islands, mating time is around February. It seems that this is the only island where there are always some male frigates in mating mood. And when they are in mating mood, they blow up a red sack they have under their neck. Carlos told us this can take up to 40 minutes. And then they pose and show their beauty to attract the females.

I was wondering if it feels comfortable to have such a big sack under the beak.... but it looks beautiful, and the females think so too

can you figure that one out?

This photo reminds me of the following sentence: Love isn't looking at each other, it is looking together at the same direction.

and what I love about the frigates, not only the female sits in the nest brooding over the nest, the male does too, sometimes for a week while the female goes fishing

and here a female in her nest

They are the most fascinating birds. To attract the females, the males also open their wings

and here one more female in her nest.

and a last male frigate in mating mood sitting on a tree.

what is she wispering in his ear?

and what is he answering her?

and here, the result of a big love.

we also saw some other birds on Seymour Norte

and some beautiful iguanas

and, naturally, sea lions

We had the oportunity to see, from far, a booby dance. The male booby performs a dance to conquer a female. First she pretends not to be interested. Notice: The male is opening his wings, part of the dance, and she turns away.

he keeps on dancing

Isn't that gorgeous?Sometimes 2-3 males perform at the same time, hoping to get her attention. After the dance, the male booby brings a little branch to the female in his beak. If she accepts it, they are engaged.

more Santiago, Rabida

I just found 2 pictures from north Isabela which i want to insert here.

and now Santiago:
On Sunday Carlos took us to a beach in Santiago which from far did not look inviting at all, but when we landed there turned out to be fantastic

This iguana was sitting on the rocks and looked as if he were saying: look at my reign.

I love the structure of the rocks

and its inhabitants

I just noriced that I had inserted several photos from here in my last post.
In the afternoon we sailed to another beautiful island, Rabida. What is special about this island is its red sand.

another pretty bird whose name I forgot.

Isn't the color of the sand amazing?

There are so many little islets around here

On our walk we saw a little baby sea lion. At first we thought it was dead but Carlos explained to us that these sea lions can reduce their heart beat to survive quite a long time, waiting until their mom brings them some food. The mother recognizes them by the smell. That's why you are not allowed to touch them. If you do,, the mother feels the smell of your hand and does not recognise her baby and it might die.

and here another baby waiting for his mom.

they are sooo sweet

we had a little chat before we went on.

haven't shown you any crabs for some ttime. Have you been missing them? I really will miss all thee animals when I leave Galapagos.

this baby was taking a bath in a little pond.

and one photo which I photographed out of a book: a turtle being born.

have a wonderful day!

more Isabela, Santiago

On the fourth afternoon we sailed along the coast of Isabela. The scenery there is beautiful.

The sea has the most fantastic color.

We sailed during the whole night, 8-9 hours, to the next island, Santiago. In the morning we went first for a walk on the island. On the beach we met this beautiful Galapagos hawk. He let us come as close as about 1,5 m.